Kuraray Europe GmbH Sustainability Blog Kuraray obtains ISCC PLUS certification
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Good reason for celebration at Kuraray in Frankfurt am Main, Germany: both production plants at the site in Höchst Industrial Park have been awarded ISCC PLUS certification following an extensive audit. This sustainability certificate is regarded as the gold standard in the chemical industry. It documents the origin and processing of the raw materials used along the entire supply chain. Certification is a milestone in the company’s efforts to increase transparency and sustainability.
The ISSC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) PLUS certification process examined whether Kuraray Europe’s two production plants in Frankfurt meet the stringent sustainability criteria and requirements set by this standard. The focus was on the origin and end-to-end traceability of the sustainable materials used. Intensive preparation was needed to collect the required information and documents.
“Certification was only possible thanks to the good collaboration of the many colleagues involved at our production plants and business units,” stresses Dr. Jörg Schappel, Head of the Safety, Health & Sustainability department, which led this process.
These days, many companies are reviewing their supply chains and expect their partners to provide corresponding evidence. At the same time, legislation is setting increasingly tough standards: claims about the environmental friendliness of production and products have to be correct and verifiable – otherwise greenwashing may be suspected. In view of this, ISCC PLUS certification is becoming more important, because it is regarded as exemplary and requires compliance with clear criteria.
Following the successful audit, Kuraray demonstrably meets the higher demands for transparency and sustainability. “KURARAY POVAL™ and MOWITAL® can be produced as bio-based products if that is what customers want. We make sure that these products are sustainable and that our customers are able to provide their customers with the necessary evidence,” explains Lukas Frick, manager in the Safety, Health & Sustainability department, who supported the entire certification process.
Only biocircular raw materials, i.e. plant residues or biological waste such as cooking oil from the catering sector, are used. “After all, no company – including us – wants to compete directly with the production of food,” says Jörg Schappel.
The Kuraray Group is continuously expanding its range of certified products. Back in 2022, its subsidiary EVAL Europe in Antwerp, Belgium, obtained ISCC PLUS certification and brought EVOH resin based on renewable resources (biocircular EVOH) onto the market. Certification of PVB film production in Troisdorf, near Bonn in Germany, and at Holešov in the Czech Republic is planned and will soon be achieved. Step by step, Kuraray is realizing its vision of a chemical company focused on sustainable growth, with sustainable, high-quality products that make a positive contribution for people and the planet.
ISCC certification is internationally recognized and is regarded as reliable evidence of sustainable practices. Certified companies document that they use environmentally compatible raw materials, for example, bio-based, recycled or fossil materials with a low carbon footprint. Thanks to the mass balance approach, the proportion of sustainable raw materials in products made from various different materials can be calculated and certified. The audit process is demanding and covers social and economic parameters as well as ecological aspects. An independent auditor from an ISCC-accredited certification organization conducts the audit on-site. Certificates are normally valid for twelve months and then have to be renewed.
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